OFFICE WORK RELATED MUSCULO-SKELETAL DISORDER (OWRMSD) AMONG SECRETARIAL PROFESSIONALS IN EBONYI STATE GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHMENT

Abstract

The study examined that office work related musculo-skeletal discomfort (WRMSD) among secretarial professionals in government establishment in Ebonyi State. Three research questions guided the study. The study adopted descriptive research design. The population of the study was 250 secretaries involving 107 males and 133 females’ secretaries who worked in various offices in Government in Ebonyi State. There was no sample since the population is manageable. The instrument for data collection was structured question titled: “office work related musculo-skeletal disorder among secretarial professionals questionnaire (OWRMSDASPQ). Data collected were analyzed using mean and standard deviation. The findings revealed that lower and central back pain after work; knees and leg swelling while working; fingers, thumb, wrist, and arm pain; neck pain; eye and chest pain; body fatigue or tiredness after work; headaches during or after working at the computer; burning eyes; stress and depression; blurred vision when looking up from computer; stiffness in the hands; eyestrain; redness of eyes; double vision; numbness and coldness in the hands; driving/night vision after computer use; need to massage hands; shoulder pain and forearm pain are nature of office work related musculo-skeletal disorder among secretarial staff. The also revealed that the causes of office work related musculo-skeletal disorder among secretarial staff include: awkward posture; forceful exertion; strain contact pressure; exposure to vibration; exposure to intense heat or cold; repetitive movements; poor office layout; noise within office environment and lack of ergonomic chairs in office. The study further showed that providing good workstation for all office civil servants; providing break period while working in office; training office workers on good sitting and work posture in the office can help reduce office work related musculo-skeletal disorder among secretarial staff. Hypotheses tested shows that there is no significance difference in the mean responses of male and female male and female Male and female secretaries on office work related musculo-skeletal disorder among secretarial professionals, there is no significant difference in the mean responses of Male and female secretaries on the causes of office work-related musculoskeletal disorders among secretarial professionals and there is significant difference in the mean responses of Male and female secretaries on the strategies for reducing the office work-related musculoskeletal disorders.   Based on the findings it was recommended among others that Government should  adopt ergonomic guideline to create a suitable working environment that fit employee’s physical capability in all government offices in Ebonyi state.

Keyword: Office, Work Related Musculo-skeletal Disorder (MSDs), Secretarial staff